Friday, March 25

Hasegawa’s new items for June 2016 – What already?

Even we left out the “new” re-releases of the limited items Hasegawa sure still have a lot to come this June. Take a look at their
releases in our preview to try to plan your next build in time for their release….

Night fighter versions of the popular De Havilland Mosquito
were first produced in 1942. Mk.XIII versions, specifically, were equipped with
microwave radar for homing in on enemy aircraft. Once it hunted down an enemy,
the Mosquito used a combination of speed and four 20mm cannons to bring down
bombers and fighters alike. For long hauls over Fortress Europe, the
balsa-built Mosquitos could carry external drop tanks. Kit features new resin
radome and gun camera parts plus external drop tanks and full decals for two
versions.

Celebrate a century of soaring with this awesome P-3C Orion
kit! In 1916, naval aviation in Germany consisted both of fixed wing aircraft
and their considerably less manoeuvrable but higher-endurance zeppelin
companions. P-3C Orions combine the features of each in a way leaders from 100
years ago could scarcely have dreamed. These aircraft have an endurance of 16
hours-still far less than the zeppelins, but their cruise speed of 328 knots
and, of course, the incredible sensitivity of their sensors make zeppelins and
flimsy 1916 seaplanes look like toys. Kit features new resin parts and two
"Graf Zeppelin" decals.

Some planners scoffed at this piston-engine aircraft
operating in the jet age. However, it was one of the most successful close
support aircraft of the Vietnam War. Its lower flying speed allowed weapons to
be delivered with greater precision and its 8,000lb weapons capacity ensured
there was plenty to go around. Close support missions are inherently dangerous
as the low level, low speed attack makes the aircraft vulnerable to every
weapon on the battlefield. Thankfully, the remarkable resilience of the
Skyraider pulled most through. Kit features two full decal sets.

Active since 1973, Fighter Squadron Composite Twelve
(VFC-12) is based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. VFC-12
trains pilots from East Coast air wings in the finer points of aerial combat.
Until 2012, VFC-12 aircraft were easily distinguished by a unique blue
camouflage paint scheme. Today, their F/A-18A+ Hornets sport a signature
splinter camouflage similar to select SU-35 Flankers. This limited edition kit
combo features two F/A-18A+ Hornet kits with one marking option each.

The F-5E Tiger II continued the tradition of excellence
begun by the F-5A Tiger, but replaced the AN/APQ-153 radar with the more
advanced AN/APQ-159 system, which improved range and frequency agility. The
Taiwan Air Force received its first shipment of 28 F-5E Tiger IIs in May 1975.
By the time production ceased in 1987, Taiwan received a total of 308 F-5Es, 23
of which remain in service today. This limited edition kit features one marking
option.

Slim but striking, the Do 215 was initially developed by
Dornier for the Swedish Air Force. When war broke out in 1939, the Do 215 was
transferred into Luftwaffe service, where it was used as a light bomber and
night fighter by Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2), a night fighter-wing. By the
war's end, NJG 2 had tallied an estimated 800 aerial victories. This limited
edition kit features two marking options.

A full forty years after it was set, the SR-71's 2,193 mph
speed record still stands as the single fastest flight for a manned,
air-breathing aircraft. In secret Cold War missions over the Soviet Union, the
SR-71 evaded pursuit and missiles with intense acceleration. Pressure-suited
crews took these miraculous titanium-skinned aircraft to 80,000 feet and
cruised at Mach 3.2. They snapped pictures of targets with high-powered cameras
and scanned with radar. No hostile action ever brought down an SR-71, but peace
and satellites grounded them forever in 1998.

Massive Rolls-Royce® Avon 300 afterburning engines were
capable of delivering 77.3kN of thrust (roughly 17,000 lb of force). This
incredible power made the Draken Western Europe's first fully supersonic
aircraft. At full throttle, the Draken passed Mach 2. Armament consisted of
twin 30mm cannons, rockets, missiles, and bombs. All told, for a sixties era
fighter, the Draken was one deadly delta-winged fighter. Kit features two
Swedish Air Force decal sets.

The first USAF fighter capable of sustained, level
supersonic flight, Super Sabres were in service with the US for twenty-five
years. In the skies over Vietnam, they performed combat air patrols and escort
missions for bombers. In combat, they could outperform the opposing MiG-17.
None were lost to enemy fighters. However, anti-aircraft fire and accidents
still reaped a toll of Sabres in Vietnam. Kit combo features two aircraft with
two sets of decals.

The Cosmo Sport made its racing debut at the 1968 Marathon
de la Route, held at Germany's infamous 84-hour Nürburgring event. Mazda used
two Cosmos to promote its revolutionary two-rotor Wankel engine during this
endurance test. While one of the Cosmos suffered axle damage in lap 84, another
claimed a fourth-place victory. This limited edition kit features two marking
options for cars from the 1968 Marathon de la Route held on August 21, 1968.

The Mitsubishi F-2B may not be the most famous fighter
around, but it is certainly one of the most impressive. The F-2 has the
distinction of being the first military aircraft equipped with Active
Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Its wing area is also 25 percent
larger than other fighters in its class. Currently, there are 61 single-seat
F-2As and 21 F-2B two-seat trainers flying worldwide! This limited edition kit
features one marking option.